President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have now been married for two decades. The couple welcomed their only child together, Barron Trump, in 2006 — the same year they married.

Barron spent his early childhood in Manhattan’s Trump Tower, where he reportedly had an entire floor to himself. Despite growing up surrounded by luxury, his upbringing was surprisingly traditional in one key way: he never had a full-time nanny. Melania chose to take on the hands-on parenting role herself, preparing his breakfast and lunch every single day and remaining his primary caregiver.

In interviews over the years, Melania has described Barron as imaginative, curious, and deeply creative. Speaking to People in 2015, she explained:

“Barron is 9 years old. He needs somebody as a parent there, so I am with him all the time, as you know my husband is traveling all the time.”

Donald Trump echoed this sentiment, saying they intentionally kept outside help “to a minimum,” believing that too much assistance creates distance between parents and their children.

Melania encouraged Barron’s imagination to flourish freely. In a Parenting interview, she shared that his room blended the family’s décor with his personal passions — especially planes and helicopters. She let him draw on his playroom walls, explaining that creativity thrives when children are not constantly told “no.”

“One day he was playing bakery and wrote Barron’s Bakery on the wall with crayons,” she recalled. “His imagination is important. We can always paint it over.”

Barron Today — A New Chapter in New York

Now 19, Barron is attending NYU’s Stern School of Business — a different academic path from his older siblings, who all graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

Unlike most college freshmen, he isn’t living in a dorm. Instead, he chose to remain at home, a decision supported by both parents.

A source told People:

“Living in a dorm in a college town isn’t in the stars for him at this point. Barron already has his own political ideas, and it all needs to be monitored in light of the situation.”

The source added that Melania prefers to stay close to him:

“Whether or not others think he is capable of being on his own, Melania feels it’s better to be around him as much as possible. I see that continuing.”

Barron is Melania’s only child, while Donald Trump has older children from his marriages to Ivana Trump and Marla Maples. Donald has said he would have welcomed more children with Melania, but she felt fulfilled with one — especially given their demanding lifestyle.

A Mother’s Pride

In her memoir, Melania describes Barron as an “incredible young man,” noting that she raised him to think for himself and make his own decisions — including his choice to attend college in New York and continue living at home.

“I’m very proud. His strength, his intelligence, his knowledge, his kindness — it’s admirable.”

She acknowledges his life has been far from typical for someone his age, but she hopes his college years offer him meaningful experiences and room to grow.